Across the area

A car chase through Evans on Wednesday ended when the suspect ran into the side of a Columbia County Sheriff's Office cruiser and damaged two other patrol cars.

The pursuit began in south Augusta when a Richmond County sheriff's deputy attempted to pull over David Horne, 28, of the 2100 block of Stevens Road, Augusta, for suspected drug activity, Richmond County Sgt. Robert Silas said.

Richmond County officers chased Mr. Horne down Bobby Jones Expressway and managed to deflate his front driver's side tire with road spikes near the Wrightsboro Road offramp.

Columbia County authorities joined the pursuit shortly after 6:30 p.m. when Mr. Horne crossed Washington Road onto Old Evans Road.

Mr. Horne kept driving, making it onto Belair Road when he hit a police car and finally stopped in the parking lot of Evans Middle School's football field.

Columbia County police took Mr. Horne into custody. He is being held in the Columbia County Detention Center.

He is charged with three counts of aggravated assault, fleeing and attempting to elude, reckless driving, driving on the wrong side of the road, hit and run and other traffic charges, said Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris.

Police seek two men in teens' shooting

Aiken County authorities are looking for two men in connection with the nonfatal shooting Tuesday night of two teenage brothers in Windsor.

Sheriff's officials say 19-year-old Felix Vargas and 17-year-old Julio Vargas were at a Windsor convenience store when they encountered two men who tried to start an argument.

The brothers told authorities that one of the men fired into their car at Dana and Water Oak drives.

The victims fled the car as the men continued to shoot, hitting Felix Vargas in the stomach and Julio Vargas in the right ankle.

The suspects, described as a white man, 20 to 25 years old, and a bald Hispanic man with a goatee, sped from the scene.

The brothers were taken to Medical College of Georgia Hospital. Julio Vargas was released, and Felix Vargas was in good condition Wednesday, hospital officials said.

Woman is stabbed defusing argument

A woman was taken to Medical College of Georgia Hospital after she was stabbed while trying to defuse an argument Tuesday, police reports state.

Bridgett M. Dozier, 34, was stabbed Tuesday afternoon in her back, shoulder and chest with a box cutter, a Richmond County sheriff's report states.

The report states that Ms. Dozier was attempting to end an argument between her sister and an unknown woman.

An employee of a Hephzibah convenience store told Richmond County sheriff's deputies that he was robbed at gunpoint Tuesday night, a police report states.

The employee at the Citgo station in the 3000 block of Tobacco Road said that after 11:30 p.m., a man entered the store and pointed a handgun at him, demanding he open the cash register.

The employee said that when the register opened, the assailant took the drawer.

The man put the money in a bag, placed the bag under his shirt and ran away south on New Karleen Road, the report states.

Augusta man says he was attacked on walk

An Augusta man said he was jumped while walking on Olive Road, a Richmond County Sheriff's Office police report states.

Antonio Hester, 20, reported Tuesday that the three men jumped him and started hitting him for unknown reasons, the report shows.

Mr. Hester suffered visible injuries to his left hip and left elbow and was taken to Medical College of Georgia Hospital, the report states.

The police report shows that Mr. Hester declined to prosecute.

Elderly woman says her purse was stolen

An elderly Augusta woman told Richmond County sheriff's deputies Wednesday that someone took her purse, containing several thousand dollars in cash, a police report states.

Virgina Crawford, 77, of Telfair Street, told deputies that someone took the purse, containing about $6,000, her license and her Social Security card.

Groups will sponsor free fan giveaway

SCANA Energy and the CSRA Economic Opportunity Authority Inc. will sponsor a free fan giveaway to local low-income senior citizens June 8, a news release states.

The box floor fans, donated by SCANA, will be distributed to qualifying seniors older than 55, the release states.

The event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Henry Brigham Senior Center, 2463 Golden Camp Road. For more information, call 722-2207.

Cooling centers open in Columbia County

Columbia County now has two cooling centers open for residents who do not have air conditioning and need somewhere to seek shelter as temperatures rise along with the risks for heat-related illnesses among young children and the elderly.

The Bessie Thomas Community Center, 5913 Euchee Creek Drive in Grovetown, will be open between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The center will have a sitting room with ice water and television available.

For more information, call 556-0308.

Patriots Park, 5445 Columbia Road in Grovetown, also will have a sitting room open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, call 863-7523.

Anyone needing transportation to either center can call the Columbia County Public Transit office at 556-0308.